Europe

The weaponization of law: judicial activism and ‘lawfare’

By Isabella Joseph From the moment he took office in 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy found himself to be the subject of palpable public dislike. A hatred so irrational, in fact, that those who heard his policies without his name attached to them, supported them. This public aversion to Sarkozy’s personality soon translated into political sabotage. French voters delivered a definitive, almost personal, act of democratic spite; the electoral outcome was a testament to voter anger that sa

Czechia at a crossroads: The uncertain future under Andrej Babiš

As Andrej Babiš reclaims power amid corruption trials and EU tensions, Czechia faces deep uncertainty over its democratic future and global standing. Czechia's most recent parliamentary election has revealed that former Prime Minister and notable billionaire Andrej Babiš claims victory — of sorts. The deemed right-wing populist party ANO, led by the oligarch, was reported to receive just under 35% of the vote, falling short of a majority and far from a landslide victory or tr

Vive la confusion! – Departures, division and dire straits for Macron

By Dylan Balch When Sebastien Lecornu resigned as Prime Minister on 6th October, after only 26 days in office, the fragility of the French framework was uncovered for all to see. The French government did not merely witness a personnel change at the top of government; it experienced a shockwave that laid bare the tenuous state of Emmanuel Macron’s presidency. The swift reinstatement that followed - an attempt at damage control - only magnified the sense of crisis. A governmen

Why 'middle ground Meloni' is Europe's greatest asset

By Luke Magalhaes Italy finds itself in a new type of hot water this week: 107% tariffs imposed by the US, and the reaction of Meloni’s government serves as yet another reminder of why the Italian Prime Minister is Europe’s greatest asset in dealing with Trump. For a democratically elected European politician, Giorgia Meloni is, somewhat unusually, incredibly well-liked by Trump. He has described the Italian Prime Minister as a ‘wonderful woman’ , and, from their stances on